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China Crosses ‘Line Of Actual Control’ With Stealth Invasion Of India

Whether this is just a ‘misunderstanding’ or a land-grab to make up for Japan’s Senkaku actions, the Indians are claiming that a platoon of Chinese soldiers have crossed the so-called ‘Line of Actual Control’ in the Indian-held Ladakh region. They have remained there for two weeks and even as India complains, the Chinese deny, saying that they are “firmly opposed to any acts that involve crossing the Line of Actual Control and sabotaging the status quo.” Indian officials fear that if they react with force, the face-off could escalate into a battle. But doing nothing would leave a Chinese outpost deep in territory India has ruled since independence. “If they have come 19 kilometers into India, it is not a minor LAC violation. It is a deliberate military operation. And even as India protests, more tents have come up,” said one analyst but the Indians are rattling other sabres. China is India’s biggest trading partner, with bilateral trade heavily skewed in China’s favor, crossing $75 billion in 2011. Politicians are demanding Chinese imports are banned, “the Chinese have to learn that such aggression cannot be delinked from trade.” Most are baffled by Beijing’s motives, since its actions could force India to move closer to Beijing’s biggest rival, the United States; though perhaps bringing that closer is just the point.